Thread: TX-ILLEGAL SHOCKED HIS COMMERICAL D.L. CANCELED!!!!!

He has lived in the U.S. for 22 years as an ILLEGAL except "Gutierrez was granted temporary legal status in 2002 after an earthquake hammered his native El Salvador. He was shocked to learn during a December traffic stop that the state had canceled his commercial driver's license in March. He said he never got a letter warning him that there was a problem." He has been in the U.S. since the late 80's just maybe as an ILLEGAL then granted temporary status because an earthquake in his home country in 2002 and SHOCKED in 2010 to learn his commercial license was canceled and the ILLEGAL was not informed by mail about his PROBLEM, being an ILLEGAL or NO drivers license! The U.S. needs ILLEGAL truck drivers jobs CITIZENS refuse!! I should be shocked that an ILLEGAL has a commercial driver license but I'm not.

The Chamber of Commerce will continue to import ILLEGALS to take Citizens’ jobs or push to allow Mexican trucker to cross the border LEGALLY(?) to take American jobs as they are doing now; of course with the support of our Elitist Local and National Politicians. Texans why do you think the Chamber of Commerce supported Straus for Speaker; to make it easy to bring in more ILLEGALS?

Immigrant drivers face an uncertain road
Those in U.S. under a special status find their commercial driver's licenses canceled under a newly enforced law
By SUSAN CARROLL
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Jan. 11, 2011, 11:25PM

Eric Kayne For the Chronicle

Salvador Gutierrez, a native of El Salvador, said he has built a modest but prosperous life in Houston with the money he earns driving his Kenworth 18-wheel truck. But his livelihood is threatened now, he said, by a recent decision by the Department of Public Safety to revoke the commercial driver's licenses of immigrants who lack certain immigration documents -- even though they are legally authorized to work in the United States. The controversy centers on a change to the Texas Transportation Code enacted in 2007, but only recent enforced by DPS, said Bianca Santorini, an attorney with Houston's American for All, an immigrant advocacy organization. The change jeopardizes the commercial licenses of thousands of immigrants granted Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, a kind of temporary reprieve from deportation generally reserved for countries ravaged by natural disasters or destabilized by war, Santorini said.

Salvador Gutierrez, a native of El Salvador, said he has built a modest but prosperous life in Pasadena with the money he earns driving his Kenworth 18-wheel truck.

But his livelihood is threatened now, he said, by a recent decision by the Department of Public Safety to cancel the commercial driver's licenses of immigrants who lack certain immigration and travel documents — even though they are legally authorized to work in the U.S.

The controversy centers on a change to the Texas Transportation Code enacted in 2007 but only recently enforced by DPS, said Bianca Santorini, an attorney with Houston's America for All, an immigrant advocacy organization. Santorini said the change jeopardizes the commercial licenses of immigrants granted Temporary Protected Status, or TPS — a kind of temporary reprieve from deportation for people from countries ravaged by natural disasters or destabilized by war.

DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said a change in the law in 2007 required all applicants for commercial driver licenses who are not U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, asylees, or refugees to obtain a special, "non-resident" commercial driver license.

By law, applicants for the non-resident CDLs must present three specific documents — a passport, visa and an I-94 form issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers upon arrival to the U.S., Mange said. But until recently, DPS did not enforce that specific paperwork requirement.

Mange estimated that about 1,800 "non-resident" CDLs have been issued in error since Sept. 1, 2007. Mange said everyone issued "non-resident" commercial licenses will be required to show DPS the specific documents — the passport, visa and I-94 form — during the next 90 days, or their licenses will be canceled.

But recipients of TPS are not issued those specific documents by the U.S. government, even though they are given paperwork showing they are legally authorized to work in the U.S.

Powerless to change
Mange conceded that TPS recipients are not issued the documents required by the code but said DPS is powerless to change it.

"The Legislature would have to change that," Mange said. "It's a law, not a rule.

"Our hands are tied right now," she said.

Asked why DPS started enforcing the 2007 code recently, Mange said: "I'm not sure what changed."

For many of the truck drivers, including Gutierrez, losing their commercial licenses could mean losing their jobs.

"It's their whole livelihood," Santorini said. "They cannot work. Some of them own their own trucks or their own trucking companies.

"The most unfair thing is that there was no notice," she said. "They find out when they're driving that their licenses have been suspended."

Santorini said DPS could redraft the Texas Transportation Code to expand the list of acceptable documents to those issued to people with Temporary Protected Status. She said action by the Legislature is not required.

While the state and immigrant advocacy organizations try to figure out a resolution, truckers like Gutierrez said they are worried about losing their jobs.

Gutierrez was granted temporary legal status in 2002 after an earthquake hammered his native El Salvador. He was shocked to learn during a December traffic stop that the state had canceled his commercial driver's license in March. He said he never got a letter warning him that there was a problem.

"I said, 'No, I can't believe it,' " the 36-year-old said.

'A mess for me'
Gutierrez, who has lived in the U.S. for 22 years and has three U.S.-born children, said that if he's unable to resolve the license cancellation, he's not sure what he will do.

"It will be a mess for me. I have my house payment, my truck payment, my car payment, and my wife and my children to support. It's going to affect me a lot. I know that," he said. "And it's not just me. It's thousands of people. We are all in the same boat."

susan.carroll@chron.com

You have recommended this user.

Comments(141)- From Friends (6)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 77473.html

He could have applied for anmesty in 80's. He knew he was illegal and I am sure he knew he didn'ty have the documents needed, so he just "skated".

"Hell, he might as well go home and drive truck in mexico, they're all comin' here anyway, it'll be like he never left!"

so in 22 yrs in this country he never thought to become a citizen and only when there was an earthquake in el salvador did he even think about changing his status! With that I'm supposed to feel sorry for this guy? The reason he's even in this situation is because he never followed the law of the country he chooses to reside and instead of him following the law were just supposed to change it to suit people like this with the mentallity of its ok to break the law until I get caught then its everybody elses fault for having the law. I don't agree with that additude and this artical shows how are laws are wrong but the immagrant who breaks them isnt ! Why was the question never asked if he's tried to become a citizen in the 22 yrs and if he's going to reside in the usa wouldn't it be in his best intrest to attain citizenship givin the fact that he has so much to provide for!

I REALLY FIND IT PUZZLING HOW THEY CAN COME HERE BEING ILLEGAL AS H**L AND THEN BE ABE TO OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESS/COMPANIES. I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY AMERICAN CITIZEN WHO WOULD HAVE LIKED TO BE ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING, BUT THEY ARE UNABLE TO BECAUSE NO ONE WILL BACK THEM FINANCIALLY. THERE ARE A LOT OF ILLEGALS THAT ARE IN BUSINESS FOR THEMSELVES IN THIS COUNTRY. GO FIGURE, ONLY IN AMERIC

At one time an average Joe (or Jane) could make a good living driving an 18 wheeler. After the industry was deregulated everything when to hell. Hundreds, if not thousands, of companies declared bankruptcy or went out of business. This eliminated pension plans and drove down wages. It was a legal form of "union busting".

The same thing was done in the airline industry. Today, it's cheaper to fly, but it's not better. Even w/o the security concerns, taking a flight today is NOT a pleasant experience.

Since deregulation of the trucking industry, good drivers have been in short supply. You can imagine why, their wages were driven down and they lost many of their previous benefits. The job is more difficult than ever and it's difficult to make enough money, to pay the bills. A new truck and trailer may cost $40 - 60,000.

A shortage of driver's, like a shortage of nurses, keeps the wages from completely collapsing. However, if only Mexican drivers could haul goods across the USA, the number of drivers would increase exponetially.

So, the push for Mexican drivers is a push to "outsource" more jobs and drive down wages even more. Both parties under Bush and Obama has tried to do this.

This must be another one of those jobs Americans refuse to do, own their own trucking business.

While Americans are busy getting felt up at the airport and posing for porn debuts, DOT is busy trying to make life difficult for American truckers all the while advocating open borders and host of security issues surrounding visa holders of various types or lack of, running around the country with truck and trailer.

Now I feel secure and safe.

I hate to say this Texas,....but it appears that the carpet bagger's legacy lives on and runs the show.

Moptop said: the mentallity of its ok to break the law until I get caught then its everybody elses fault for having the law.


These people will never stop demanding special rights. Deport him now with a warning that if he comes back, he WILL go to prison.... ( huh... I can dream can't I...)

Originally Posted by Newmexican

He could have applied for anmesty in 80's. He knew he was illegal and I am sure he knew he didn'ty have the documents needed, so he just "skated".

22 years ago was 1988. amnesty was given in 86

You are right James, his says 22 years and that misses the 86 amnesty, but there were a lot of opportunities in 22 years. It seems that he didn't seem to think he had to do the silly paperwork to be legal, he was already here.

I assume that his children were born here.

[quote]When the Immigration Reform and Control Act was passed, it was only meant to be a “one timeâ€